Athletic protective shield

ABSTRACT

A protective shield for a lower leg of an ice skater is provided. The protective shield comprises a protective segment and a support segment to which the protective segment is secured. The protective segment comprises a web of interlocking metal loops. The protective segment is shaped and sized to fit over at least a rear portion of the lower leg including at least a portion of an Achilles tendon and at least a portion of a calf. The support segment is shaped and sized to fit around the lower leg, and is resilient to hold the protective shield in place around the lower leg during skating and to tension the protective segment against the rear portion of the lower leg.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to athletic protective shields, and in particular to athletic shields that protect the user against cuts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Athletes often wear protective gear in sports where there is a potential for injurious contact. In ice hockey, the skate blade poses a cutting danger. This danger is significant given the sharpness of the skate blade and the high speeds at which hockey players skate on the rink and frequently collide with one another. Laceration by the skate blade, particularly of the lower leg including the calf and the Achilles tendon, has been known to sideline recreational and professional hockey players. With player size, speed, and skill increasing every year, the frequency of this type of injury is on the rise. For example, in the past, Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators, Andre Markov of the Montreal Canadians, Kevin Bieksa of the Vancouver Canucks, and Dave Bolland of the Toronto Maple Leafs have all suffered severe skate cuts to the Achilles and/or calf area. Such injuries may have long-term consequences for a player's career and general health.

Ice hockey skates provide some protection for the lower-most portion of the Achilles tendon. However, the calf and the remaining portions of the Achilles tendon remain susceptible to laceration by the skate blade. Existing protective gear for the Achilles tendon and the calf often uses aramids or high molecular weight polyethylene to provide resistance to cuts by the skate blade. These materials are typically spun into a fiber and incorporated in a fabric that forms part of the hockey player's uniform.

While these materials may be somewhat harder to cut than cotton and other synthetic fabrics used for hockey uniforms, it is highly uncertain whether they would be able to protect the calf and the Achilles tendon from deep cuts by a sharpened skate blade in a collision between two hockey players moving at full-speed. Given the serious consequences of deep cuts by the skate blade which can severely damage the calf and the Achilles tendon, aramid or polyethylene-based protective fabrics may not provide the level of skate cut-protection desirable in a hockey calf and Achilles tendon protective shield.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present specification there is provided a protective shield for a lower leg of an ice skater, the protective shield comprising a protective segment and a support segment to which the protective segment is secured. The protective segment comprises a web of interlocking metal loops. The protective segment is shaped and sized to fit over at least a rear portion of the lower leg including at least a portion of an Achilles tendon and at least a portion of a calf. The support segment is shaped and sized to fit around the lower leg, and is resilient to hold the protective shield in place around the lower leg during skating and to tension the protective segment against the rear portion of the lower leg.

According to another aspect of the present specification there is provided a protective shield for a lower leg of an ice skater, the protective shield comprising a protective segment and a support segment to which the protective segment is secured. The protective segment comprises a metal mesh. The protective segment is shaped and sized to fit over at least a rear portion of the lower leg including at least a portion of an Achilles tendon and at least a portion of a calf. The support segment is shaped and sized to fit around the lower leg, and is resilient to hold the protective shield in place around the lower leg during skating and to tension the protective segment against the rear portion of the lower leg.

According to another aspect of the present specification there is provided an athletic protective shield, comprising a protective segment and a support segment to which the protective segment is secured. The protective segment comprises a web of interlocking metal loops, and is shaped and sized to fit over a body part of a user. The support segment is shaped and sized to fit around the body part, and is resilient to hold the athletic protective shield in place around the body part during athletic movement and to tension the protective segment against the body part.

According to another aspect of the present specification there is provided a protective shield for a lower leg of an ice skater, the protective shield comprising a protective segment and a support segment to which the protective segment is secured. The protective segment comprises a web of interlocking metal loops made of steel or titanium. The protective segment is shaped and sized to fit over at least a rear portion of the lower leg including at least a portion of a calf and at least a portion of an Achilles tendon. The support segment comprises elastane and is permanently secured to the protective segment to form a unitary hockey sock shaped and sized to fit around the lower leg. The support segment is resilient to hold the protective shield in place around the lower leg during skating and to tension the protective segment against the rear portion of the lower leg.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the various embodiments described herein and to show more clearly how they may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1A depicts a side elevation view of an embodiment of the protective shield worn on the lower leg of a user.

FIG. 1B depicts a magnified region of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 depicts a side elevation view of another embodiment of the protective shield worn on the lower leg of a user, in which the support segment can have a cuff.

FIG. 3 depicts a rear elevation view of the protective shield of FIG. 1A worn on the lower leg of a user.

FIG. 4 depicts an example pattern of a web of interlocking loops according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 depicts a cross-section of another embodiment of the protective shield worn on the lower leg of a user, in which a fabric layer can cover one side of the web of interlocking loops.

FIG. 6 depicts a rear elevation view of another embodiment of the protective shield worn on the lower leg of a user, in which the protective segment can comprise a web of interlocking loops and a cut resistant fabric.

FIG. 7 depicts a rear elevation view of another embodiment of the protective shield worn on the lower leg of a user, in which the protective segment can have one or more plates interlocked with the web of interlocking loops.

FIG. 8 depicts a cross-section of an embodiment of the protective shield, in which the support segment can comprise two portions.

FIG. 9 depicts a side elevation view of another embodiment of the protective shield worn on the lower leg of a user, in which the support segment can comprise straps.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The protective shield of the present invention uses a web of interlocking loops as a protective element for the calf and the Achilles tendon. Such webs can be highly resistant to being cut by the skate blade during normal hockey conditions, and can be sufficiently flexible to conform to the contours of a body part such as the lower leg. In addition, webs of interlocking loops can be relatively light and breathable. The web of interlocking loops can be secured to a resilient support segment, which can fit over a body part of the user and hold the protective shield in place during athletic movement.

FIG. 1A shows an embodiment of the protective shield 100, worn on the lower leg of a user and viewed from the side. Protective shield 100 includes a protective segment 105 secured to a support segment 110. Protective shield 100 can have any suitable shape that is shaped and sized to fit over a body part of a user. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, protective shield 100 is shaped as a hockey sock, i.e. a knee-high sock without the foot section. The hockey sock is in effect a sleeve intended to cover the region of the lower leg extending from about the ankle to about the area below the knee. In other embodiments, the protective shield can be shaped and sized to fit around different body parts such as the neck, the fore-arms, the upper-arms, the upper legs, and the abdomen.

As shown in FIG. 1A, protective shield 100 can be worn on the lower leg, with protective segment 105 covering and protecting at least a rear portion of the lower leg including at least a portion of the Achilles tendon and/or at least a portion of the calf.

Protective segment 105 can protect the user from cuts and other physical dangers. For example, in the case of ice hockey the protective segment can protect the player from being cut by the blade of the hockey skate. The protective segment can also help to distribute and attenuate blunt force impact. Protective segment 105 can be made up of a web of interlocking loops. FIG. 1B shows a magnified region of FIG. 1A, and shows interlocking loops 120 forming a web which makes up protective segment 105. Such webs can be flexible, able to conform to the contours of a user's body part, and relatively light weight. When the loops are made of a material that is resistant to being cut, the web of interlocking loops can provide a cut-resistant protective segment. When the loop material is strong enough to withstand slashing from a hockey skate blade during normal game conditions, the protective segment can be considered to be hockey skate cut proof.

The loops can include metal including but not limited to titanium, carbon steel, and stainless steel. The loops can be made wholly of metal. The loops can, alternatively or additionally, be formed using polymeric materials including but not limited to high molecular weight polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester or aramids. Not all loops need be identical. The web can be a mix of interlocking loops of metallic and non-metallic materials. When the loops are metallic, one or more of them can be welded to form unbroken loop(s). These loops can be stronger than open loops that are formed by simply bending a metal wire into a loop shape.

Protective segment 105 can alternatively or additionally be made of a metal mesh, which can be made of interlaced metal wires or stamped out from a metal sheet. Protective segment 105 can alternatively or additionally be made of a fabric made of threads of aramids, Kevlar™, Vectran™, polyesters, polyethelene, polypropylene, and high-density microfiber.

Support segment 110 can be made of fabric. The fabric can be resilient, including but not limited to fabrics including elastane, high grade Lycra™, and Spandex™ fibers. Support segment 110 can additionally or alternatively include other resilient materials such as rubber or silicone. Support segment 110 can include straps or laces. Support segment 110 can be shaped and sized to fit around a body part of the user, which can be, but is not limited to, the lower leg as shown in FIG. 1A. In embodiments where support segment 110 is made of a resilient material, support segment 110 can be sized and shaped so that it becomes stretched when protective shield 100 is worn around a body part such as the lower leg. The resilience of support segment 110, then, can hold protective shield 100 in place around a body part such as the lower leg during athletic movement such as skating. The resilience of the stretched support segment 110 can also tension protective segment 105 against the body to be protected, which can be the calf and/or the Achilles tendon as shown in FIG. 1A.

Protective segment 105 can be permanently secured to support segment 110 to form a unitary piece, such as protective shield 100. Any suitable means can be used to secure protective segment 105 to support segment 110; such means can include but are not limited to fusing, bonding, gluing, sewing, taping, or any combination of such. Protective segment 105 can also be releasably securable to support segment 110, using suitable means including but not limited to one or more hook-and-loop fasteners, one or more zipper, buttons, one or more laces, or any combination of such.

Although support segment 110 can tension the web of interlocking loops 120 of protective segment 105 when protective shield 100 is worn, the interlocking design can allow interlocking loops to retain the ability to move relative to one another when protective segment 105 is struck by an object such as the blade of another's skate. This relative movement can dissipate some of the striking blade's energy and can make it more difficult for the blade to cut through the web of interlocking loops. In this sense, interlocking loops 120 can be considered to be able to float relative to one another. This ability to float can apply to all embodiments of the present invention which comprise a web of interlocking loops.

When support segment 110 is made of a resilient material, while protective shield 100 is worn protective segment 105 can move relative to support segment 110 when protective segment 105 is struck by an object such as another's skate blade. Alternatively and/or in addition, when worn, protective shield 100 as a whole may be able to move relative to the body of the wearer when protective shield 100 is struck by an object such as another's skate blade. These relative movements can dissipate some of the striking blade's energy and can make it more difficult for the blade to cut through protective segment 105 and/or protective shield 100. In this sense, protective segment 105 and/or protective shield 100 can be considered to be floating or suspended relative to the body of the wearer. This property of being suspended or floating can apply to all embodiments of the present invention.

Several factors can contribute to making the protective shield comfortable to ware. These factors include, but are not limited to: relatively light weight of the protective shield; breathability of the protective segment and support segment materials; flexibility of the protective segment and/or the support segment allowing the protective shield to conform to the contours of the wearer's body and to fit snugly; relatively comfortable feel of the protective shield against the skin; and the ability of the protective shield to remain in place during vigorous athletic movement including, but not limited to, skating. These factors, to varying extents, can apply to all embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the protective shield 200, worn on the lower leg of a user and viewed from the side. Protective shield 200 can be made up of protective segment 105 secured to support segment 210. Support segment 210 can have a cuff 215 near its end that is to be worn near the knee. Cuff 215 can be a region of thicker fabric, folded fabric, stitched fabric, and/or otherwise strengthened or different material. Cuff 215 can have additional resilience to hold protective shield 200 in place around the lower leg, particularly during vigorous athletic movement such as ice staking. In addition, the thicker or reinforced material of cuff 215 can prevent the edge of support segment 210 from rolling onto itself under tension.

Hem 220 can have a structure and function similar to cuff 215. Protective segment 105 can be secured to support segment 210 along seam 205. The securing can be achieved using a suitable means including but not limited to fusing, bonding, gluing, sewing, taping or any combination of such.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the protective shield 100, worn on the lower leg of a user and viewed from behind. Protective segment 105 can cover at least a part of the calf and a part of the Achilles tendon. Protective segment 105 is secured to support segment 110, which can fit around the lower leg, hold protective shield 100 in place during ice skating movement, and tension protective segment 105 against the rear portion of the lower leg.

FIG. 4 shows an example pattern of a web 400 of interlocking loops 405 that can be used for any of the protective segments discussed herein. In this example pattern, each loop 405 is interlocked with 4 adjacent loops. In general, any suitable pattern for a web of interlocking loops can be used. In other embodiments, each loop is interlocked with at least two other loops. In other patterns, loops can be interlocked with one another and with other elements including but not limited to plates and wires. In some embodiments, loops 405 can be of 4.0 or 7.0 ring size. Loops 405 can be made of grade 4 titanium, or other suitable grades of titanium. In addition, loops 405 can be made of 304 stainless steel or 316 stainless steel. Web 400 of interlocking loops 405 can comprise pieces of 21 gauge wire formed into interlocking circular loops of 7/32 inches diameter, with each circle being welded to form an unbroken loop. Other suitable loop materials, loop diameters and thicknesses, and web interlocking patterns can also be used.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of an embodiment of the protective shield 500, worn on the lower leg 520 of a user, as viewed from above. Protective shield 500 can have a protective segment 505 secured to a support segment 510. Protective segment 505 can be made of a web of interlocking loops. Protective segment 505 can be the similar to protective segment 105 described above. Support segment 505 can have a fabric layer 515 covering one side of the web of interlocking loops. When protective shield 500 is worn over lower leg 520, fabric layer 515 can be interposed between the skin of the user and the interlocking loops. Fabric layer 515 can increase comfort, and can be made of any other suitable material including but not limited to foam, mesh, and fabric containing elastane or Lycra™ fibers. Fabric layer 515 can be an extension of the support segment 510, or can be a different material secured to support segment 510 using any suitable method including fusing, bonding, gluing, sewing, taping, or any combination of such. In some embodiments, not shown, a fabric layer can cover the outside surface of protective segment 505 that faces away from the leg of the user. The fabric layers described above can be incorporated into any of the embodiments described herein.

When worn as part of an ice hockey uniform, protective shield 500 can be worn around lower leg 520, with protective segment 505 covering at least a portion of the calf 525 and/or a portion of the Achilles tendon. A regular hockey sock 530 can be worn over protective shield 500. In FIG. 5 protective shield 500 and hockey sock 530 are shown as spaced from leg 520 to clearly show each layer; when worn, protective shield 500 and hockey sock 530 can be tight against the leg 520 of the user. In addition, protective shield 500 and other parts of the athletic uniform can be worn in different orders against the user's body part. For example, other parts of the uniform can be worn between the user's leg and protective shield 500, and/or protective shield 500 can be the outermost layer worn over other parts of the uniform.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the protective shield 600, worn on the lower leg of a user and viewed from behind. Protective shield 600 comprises protective segment 605 secured to support segment 610. Protective segment 605 can be made up of different materials including but not limited to a web 615 of interlocking loops and a cut resistant fabric 620. Web 615 of interlocking loops can have properties similar to the interlocking loops of protective segment 105 discussed above. Cut resistant fabric 620 can have fibers made of a material including but not limited to aramids, Kevlar™, Vectran™, polyesters, polyethylene, polypropylene, and high-density microfiber. Cut resistant fabric 620 can be secured to the web 615 of interlocking loops and to support segment 610 using any suitable method including but not limited to fusing, bonding, gluing, sewing, and taping. When the protective shield is used for different parts of the body, the relative size and shape of the web of interlocking loops and the cut resistant fabric can be changed to optimize protection for each body part. In some embodiments, support segment 610 can be made of cut resistant fabric.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the protective shield 700, worn on the lower leg of a user and viewed from behind. Protective shield 700 comprises protective segment 705 secured to support segment 710. Protective segment 705 can have one or more plates 715 interlocked with the web of interlocking loops 720. The web of interlocking loops 720 can have properties similar to the interlocking loops of protective segment 105 discussed above. The number, size, and shape of the plates can be chosen to tailor protection for the part of the body being protected by protective shield 700. Plates 715 can be secured to loops 720 by any method including but not limited to interlocking and hinging, so long as the method provides for sufficient movement to allow protective segment 705 to move and flex during athletic movement and to follow the contours of the user's body. In some embodiments, other structures including but not limited to rods, meshes, and frames can be included in web of interlocking loops 720. Plates 715 can be made of metal, or other suitable materials including but not limited to high molecular weight polyethylene, high-tensile polymers, and carbon fiber composite. Plates 715 can be made of the same material or different materials.

FIG. 8 shows a cross-section of an embodiment of the protective shield 800 comprising a protective segment 105 secured to support segment 810. Protective segment 105 can have a first edge 105 a and a second edge 105 b. Support segment 810 can have two portions: a first potion 810 a secured to first edge 105 a and a second portion 810 b secured to second edge 105 b. First portion 810 a can have an end 815 and second portion 810 b can have an end 820. End 815 can be releasably securable to end 820 using any suitable means including but not limited to hook-and-loop fastener, zipper, buttons, and laces. One or both of portions 810 a and 810 b can be made of resilient materials. Portions 810 a and 810 b can be similar or different sizes.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the protective shield 900, worn on the lower leg of a user and viewed from the side. Protective shield 900 can comprise a protective segment 105 secured to a plurality of support straps 910 a, 910 b, and 910 c shaped and sized to wrap around the body part being protected, such as the lower leg as shown in FIG. 9. Straps 910 a, 910 b, and 910 c can be made of a resilient material, can hold the protective shield in place around the lower leg during skating, and can tension the protective segment 105 against a body part of the user, including the rear portion of the lower leg as shown in FIG. 9. In some embodiments, there can be two straps: strap 910 a secured to the first edge 105 a of protective segment 105 and strap 910 b secured to the second edge 105 a of protective segment 105. In some embodiments there can be three or more straps.

The above-described embodiments of the invention are intended to be examples of the present invention and alterations and modifications may be effected thereto, by those of skill in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto. 

We claim:
 1. A protective shield for a lower leg of an ice skater, the protective shield comprising: a protective segment comprising a web of interlocking metal loops, the protective segment shaped and sized to fit over at least a rear portion of the lower leg including at least a portion of an Achilles tendon and at least a portion of a calf; and a support segment to which the protective segment is secured, the support segment shaped and sized to fit around the lower leg, the support segment being resilient to hold the protective shield in place around the lower leg during skating and to tension the protective segment against the rear portion of the lower leg.
 2. The protective shield of claim 1, wherein the interlocking metal loops are made of steel.
 3. The protective shield of claim 1, wherein the interlocking metal loops are made of titanium.
 4. The protective shield of claim 1, wherein at least one of the interlocking metal loops is welded to form an unbroken loop.
 5. The protective shield of claim 1, wherein the protective segment further comprises a fabric layer disposed on at least one side of the web of interlocking metal loops, the fabric layer for being interposed between the rear portion of the lower leg and the web of interlocking metal loops.
 6. The protective shield of claim 1, wherein the protective segment further comprises one or more plates interlocked with the web of interlocking metal loops.
 7. The protective shield of claim 6, wherein at least one of the one or more plates is made of metal.
 8. The protective shield of claim 1, wherein the protective segment further comprises a fabric having fibers of a material selected from the group consisting of aramids, polyesters, polyethelene, polypropylene, and high-density microfiber.
 9. The protective shield of claim 1, wherein the support segment comprises a fabric having elastane.
 10. The protective shield of claim 1, wherein the protective segment and the support segment are permanently secured together to form a unitary piece.
 11. The protective shield of claim 1, wherein the protective shield is shaped as a hockey sock.
 12. The protective shield of claim 1, wherein each interlocking metal loop is interlocked with at least two adjacent loops.
 13. The protective shield of claim 1, wherein the support segment comprises a first portion secured to a first edge of the protective segment; and a second portion secured to a second edge of the protective segment, the second edge opposite the first edge; the first portion being releasably securable to the second portion.
 14. The protective shield of claim 1, wherein the support segment comprises one or more straps shaped and sized to wrap around the lower leg, the straps being resilient to hold the protective shield in place around the lower leg during skating and to tension the protective segment against the rear portion of the lower leg.
 15. The protective shield of claim 1, wherein when the protective shield is worn by the ice skater, the interlocking loops being able to move relative to each other when the interlocking loops are struck by a skate blade of another ice skater.
 16. The protective shield of claim 1, wherein when the protective shield is worn by the ice skater, the protective segment being able to move relative to the support segment when the protective segment is struck by a skate blade of another ice skater, and the protective shield being able to move relative to the ice skater when the protective shield is struck by the skate blade of the other ice skater.
 17. A protective shield for a lower leg of an ice skater, the protective shield comprising: a protective segment comprising a metal mesh, the protective segment shaped and sized to fit over at least a rear portion of the lower leg including at least a portion of an Achilles tendon and at least a portion of a calf; and a support segment to which the protective segment is secured, the support segment shaped and sized fit around the lower leg, the support segment being resilient to hold the protective shield in place around the lower leg during skating and to tension the protective segment against the rear portion of the lower leg.
 18. An athletic protective shield, comprising: a protective segment comprising a web of interlocking metal loops, the protective segment shaped and sized to fit over a body part of a user; and a support segment to which the protective segment is secured, the support segment shaped and sized to fit around the body part, the support segment being resilient to hold the athletic protective shield in place around the body part during athletic movement and to tension the protective segment against the body part.
 19. A protective shield for a lower leg of an ice skater, the protective shield comprising: a protective segment comprising a web of interlocking metal loops made of steel or titanium, the protective segment shaped and sized to fit over at least a rear portion of the lower leg including at least a portion of a calf and at least a portion of an Achilles tendon; and a support segment comprising elastane to which the protective segment is permanently secured to form a unitary hockey sock shaped and sized to fit around the lower leg, the support segment being resilient to hold the protective shield in place around the lower leg during skating and to tension the protective segment against the rear portion of the lower leg. 